Seventh graders explore persuasive writing using the city life and the country life as focus topics. For this persuasion lesson, 7th graders read "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse" in an attempt to determine the pros and cons of both...

High schoolers examine the expectations of Civil War soldiers. In this American Civil War lesson, students analyze a letter written by Colonel Shaw to his wife in order to gain an understanding of the expectations of the 54th Regiment....

Looking for a activity about differing sentence types? Use this activity on compound and complex sentences in your grammar unit. After composing simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences individually and as part of a...

Eighth graders examine the lives of the Gullah-Geechee people. In this unique cultures lesson, 8th graders explore music, language, and slavery of the Gullah-Geechee people from the southern low-country in the United States. Students...

Students consider how the Civil War impacted their community. In this Civil War lesson, students use primary and secondary sources to research the Civil War in Henry County, Georgia. Students use their findings to create multimedia...

Study unusual punctuation marks in this punctuation lesson. Young grammarians work in small groups to research one of the unusual punctuation marks (semi-colon, colon, dash, comma, ellipses, or quotation marks) and discuss how the mark...

Persuasion, when used effectively, is a powerful and effective tool. In groups, young writers develop a persuasive letter about something that they would like their parents to allow them to do. Then, independently, they use proper...

Fifth graders analyze a poem. In this poetry analysis lesson students read a poem, analyze it, and write a response. They write about their own thoughts on the poem's meaning and any feelings they have about the poem.

Challenge scholars to research a biome and create a presentation for the producers of Survivor to choose their ecosystem for the next season's show. The materials include outlines, worksheets, and grading rubrics for individuals as well...

Investigate prewriting activities in this brainstorming lesson. Middle schoolers are divided into groups and are assigned a topic. They decide which prewriting technique to choose from, including free write, looping, brainstorming,...

Fifth graders examine how to respond to literature. In this literature response lesson plan, 5th graders discuss how to respond to literature. They write a response in a literature log each night based on their reading and the...

Fifth graders review two or three chapters of a novel. In this literature lesson, 5th graders list new words, write the definition of the word on the bottom of the paper and choose a picture in a magazine that represents that word.

Fifth graders discuss interjections reviewing them to be words or phrases that express excitement or strong emotion. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders understand that commas or exclamation marks are used to separate interjections...

Sixth graders persuade classmates that their favorite book is the best book ever written. In this persuasive writing lesson, 6th graders create a written argument as to why their favorite book is the best. Students present their argument...

Fifth graders study pronouns. In this grammar lesson, 5th graders discuss what a pronoun is and write what they did last night using pronouns.

Young scholars practice using words to describe photographs they have taken.  In this descriptive writing lesson, students utilize a disposable or digital camera to take 5 pictures of their life after school.  Young scholars...

Fifth graders study comprehension. In this writing lesson, 5th graders remember what they read and write an introduction for a character from a novel just read including a good description of that character.

Fifth graders write a fiction book review. In this response to literature lesson, 5th graders read a story and share their understanding and opinion of the book. They write what the book is about, what they like about the book, and what...

Fifth graders write a book review for a nonfiction book. In this response to literature instructional activity, 5th graders read a nonfiction book and write a review that gets others interested in reading the book without giving too much...

Fifth graders practice creating suspense in writing. In this narrative instructional activity, 5th graders read stories that create suspense through the use of cliff- hangers. They use cliff-hangers in their own writing. 

Eighth graders write a three part dialogue as part of an effective memoir.  In this three part dialogue lesson, 8th graders are given two parts of a dialogue and emotions that accompany the words.  Students then create the...

Learners revise paragraphs for effective word choice.  In this effective word choice instructional activity, students analyze a paragraph for purpose, audience, development, and conventions.  Learners identify commonly overused...

Students investigate Southwest Indian Reservations. In this Native American lesson, students research Southwest Indian tribes on the Internet and by reading the book, Arrow to the Sun.

Students complete activities to study the value of money. In this money study lesson plan, students read a story about money and discuss how they earn money at home. Students watch a related video clip and create a class book about the...